Ex-Mormon Christian – Mark D. Champneys

I get a lot of email in response to this web site. It is remarkable to me how many latter-day saints are disillusioned and hurting. Many show a true heart seeking after the Most High God, but have difficulty finding Him with all the baggage that Mormonism has loaded upon them. One such wonderful Mormon lady wrote an email to me seeking help, and the Lord touched my heart, and caused me to pray a great deal for her. What follows is a letter that the Lord gave to me to write to her. (I do not take credit for any of it. Some ideas are from others, such as the poem quote from Randy Stonehill. All is ultimately from the Lord. You will see some ideas repeated that are found in other parts of this web site. I have changed the lady's name for the web page.) If you are a Mormon whose greatest desire is to seek the fellowship of our Heavenly Father and to dwell with Him forever, then I am confident that this letter is for you as much as it was for her.

Beth,

It is truly exciting to get a note such as yours, because I feel I have such great news for you. So much of what you say I can relate to, and have had similar thoughts about. I discovered that Mormonism has mislead us in so many different subtle ways, that it can be difficult to get back to the basics of what the Bible teaches about us and about God, and about us being reconciled to God. There is much unlearning to do. At least there was for me.

When I hear you describe your struggles, the great problem for mankind is clearer than ever. Sin. My sin, your sin, everyone's sin together. The Lord never intended for us to suffer so, but sin has brought about all manner of grief. I'm not just talking about your own sin because the sins of others have also caused you much harm. Nevertheless you seem to realize that you have the same sin problem as the rest of us, and that is crucial to understand. I know that I could not begin to heal until I faced fact that my sin was my biggest barrier to joy.

We were all created with a "god-shaped" void within us. We were designed to have fellowship with our Heavenly Father, and nothing less will satisfy the longings of our soul. To be with the One who "knit me together in my mother's womb" is the greatest desire of my heart. But He is also the Holy One, and whether we realize it or not, our sin brings about a war with God. There is no peace. Oh we can lie to ourselves and muster a good self-image sometimes to try to make ourselves feel better, but in the end it is a self-delusion--even for active so-called righteous Mormons. We all sin and God hates sin. He says that our "righteous" deeds are like filthy rags in His sight. A stench in the nostrils of God. Mormons say that peace is a feeling, but peace is not a feeling. It is a condition. It is the absence of war with God. And as long as the Accuser (the devil) can legally accuse us based on the Law of God, we have no peace, only pretense.

What about sin? You spoke of particular sins that you may or may not feel forgiven for. But the Bible makes it clear that sin is far more than "sinful deeds." It is a heart problem. It is who we are, not just what we do. What we do is merely the symptom. The Bible seems to continuously speak of men's hearts, yet men do not get it. The Pharisees were a prime example of this. They thought their 613 added laws would make them more righteous. But Jesus said that the all-encompassing law of God is one of the heart:

Matthew 22:36-40 "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt LOVE the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

When God destroyed the world by flood in Noah's day, it was not their mistakes, but their hearts that grieved Him:

Genesis 6:5-7 "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his HEART was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created..."

Selfish motives, impure thoughts, anger, jealousy, unkind words all spring from the heart. We can change what we do, but we cannot change who we are. Only God can do that. It is terribly frustrating, trying to be good enough for God. It is more than frustrating; it is like a terrible weight on our shoulders. No unclean thing can dwell in the presence of our Heavenly Father. No wonder Jesus said, "with man it is impossible." Others hurt us. We hurt ourselves. When will it ever end?

The Most High God has a passion for us that far exceeds our weakness. But how can a Holy God redeem sinful man without becoming contaminated Himself in the process? His justice is as perfect as His love and He must punish sin. A full legal pardon for ALL our sin is what we need. Partial forgiveness is not enough for He is of purer eyes than to behold evil, and we will be eternally separated from Heavenly Father with anything less. But He cannot offer such total forgiveness unless a penalty is paid to satisfy His righteous justice.

But God said, 'I'll forgive you.

I will face you man to man

And win your love again."

Oh how could there be possibly

A greater gift of love

Than dying for a friend.

The omnipotent self-existent One, the "I Am", who is the only uncaused cause, who created everything that is out of nothing, and who is infinite--that same God condescended to take on the limitations and weaknesses of finite human flesh to become a man like us. Because He was born of a woman He was called the Son of God and the Son of Man, but He was in fact the one and only God of the universe. Remember Isaiah said a child is born, a son is given, and His name shall be called the "mighty God, the everlasting Father." Because He took on the limitations of human flesh, Jesus had to overcome temptations like us. He had to communicate with the Sustainer of all things through prayer just like us. But the fullness of deity was in Him. He is made of the same "stuff" as the Infinite One, if you will. Someday every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Lord. Not just A lord, but THE lord, "the mighty God, the everlasting Father."

When you understand how great Jesus is, you will appreciate all the more how dear a price He paid for you. He is not merely one in a long chain of gods who were once men and progressed to godhood. Not just a noble brother of one particular god who happened to have a better plan than his brother, Lucifer. He is the Almighty, Himself. He left the throne of glory for Beth. He was disallowed in the inn, so he was born amongst the farm animals for Beth. He was tempted in all things like Beth for Beth's sake yet without sin. He was betrayed by one of His dearest friends, and it might have been Beth but He continued anyway. Beth's sinful heart pushed a crown of thorns into His bleeding scalp, and she whipped him mercilessly until His back bled. She pounded the nails of her sin into His hands and feet, and then the cross was stood up and dropped into a hole so that the full weight of his body pulled against the nails. While He hung there for Beth, He was mocked because they thought He was powerless to come down off the cross, but He kept silent and endured the disgrace of a criminal's execution. Then came the worst penalty of all. For the first time, His mortal existence was separated from the presence of the Holy God, and Jesus felt what it was like to be totally forsaken because of sin, and to feel not just pain but divine wrath. And then from the cross, He cried out, "Father, forgive Beth." That is what all this was for. To forgive Beth. To be legally permitted to wipe her record book clean for all time. Then He called out in a loud voice, "tetelestai" just before He died. In our English Bibles this comes down to us as "it is finished." But literally the word is a commercial/ legal term which means "debt paid in full."

As I write this to you tears moisten my eyes because I substitute my own name in there as well. The Most High God loves you so much. But, Beth, He did not just do this for the effect or to give you "potential" or to give you "opportunities." He did it to accomplish something. He purchased the right to offer you legal perfection, total forgiveness, a complete pardon for all your sin for all time as a completely free gift. That is the extent of God's love.

Mormonism places all kinds of limits on Christ's love. He is merely one of many gods. He died to provide immortality which could mean eternity separated from Heavenly Father. The atonement and forgiveness is only offered for past sins and only if one truly repents. But repentance is defined as stopping all sin and not repeating and sin (essentially becoming morally perfect). So, according to Moroni 10:32-33, Christ's blood only has effect for past sins if you become perfect. Progression of other kinds can occur after this life, but not repentance. This opportunity to repent (perfect yourself) is called "grace" and the "gift" of God, but becoming worthy of this "gift" is virtually impossible for every Mormon alive. The bottom line is that nearly every Mormon I've talked to feels unforgiven and thus lives with the likelihood of spending eternity apart from the presence of Heavenly Father.

But what does the Bible say about the richness of God's forgiveness?

John 6:47 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."

Hebrews 10:14 "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."

Colossians 2:13-14 "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross"

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."

Romans 4:3-5 "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

Now I know that this sounds like a lot of doctrinal talk, but it profoundly connects to a life-changing principle. A decision to take God at His word and trust His promise is the means by which we receive His forgiveness. That is all. His pardon is a legal declaration, and it is totally a gift.

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

A gift is exactly that. Totally free. Like a Christmas gift. You don't pay for it. You just receive it. Yet it must be received. A true gift is not forced upon someone, but is offered. Can you imagine if your best friend offered you a priceless gift of love, like her grandmother's solid gold locket? Would you dig into your wallet and pull out a few dollars saying, "Let me help defray part of the cost of this?" Of course not. It would be an insult. Yet for years in the Mormon Church I was doing that to the Lord. From what you have written I think you are still doing that now. His forgiveness is priceless. A thousand lifetimes of eternal progression would not be enough to pay for it. You could never buy it. But you can receive that love by the only means anyone ever receives love. Trust. Trust that love. His love is beyond all comprehension. There is no limit to it. Total pardon for all time... as a gift. Just choose to believe His promise. Mormons talk a lot about faith, but they won't believe Jesus in John 6:47. That is no faith at all. They believe that Jesus Christ lives, but that is only the first step:

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

It is not just choosing to believe that He exists, but choosing to believe what He promises. They won't believe that the reward (total forgiveness with all its ramifications) is theirs. Yet I sense that you will. You diligently seek Heavenly Father. More than anything in the world you want Him. Not so much what He gives, but you want Him. Am I correct? Total reconciliation with Him is worth any price. Out of that cleansing comes everthing that is meaningful in life. Healing. Confidence. Purpose. An end to loneliness because you have wide open fellowship with One who will never fail you, never double-cross you, and now holds nothing against you. He will say, "Your sins I will remember no more." Imagine, the infinite Most High God as your best friend. Really, actually, your best friend. Not self-imposed piety and reverence, but true friendship with the Living God!

Here is all you do: If the deepest desire of your soul is to be totally reconciled with God, just choose to believe His promise of forgiveness from this point forward, and tell Him so. When you do, a legal declaration is posted in heaven. It is not something you accomplish. He does it all. You simply receive what He sovereignly declares. All the credit and glory go to Him. There is no room for anyone to boast:

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Now let me tell you what will happen if you will make this decision. You will be born a second time. This is not just religious jargon. I'm telling you that it happened to me: my life started all over again. I had no idea what a profound effect God's forgiveness would have on me. This is not a minor doctrinal point like when LDS priesthood holders do the laying on of hands. You are transformed when God's love suddenly gets through to you. You don't merely know about that love; you experience it. You will be confident, giddy in His love. You won't be able to stop thinking about it. You are clean! Personal friend of the Most High. All the treasures of heaven are now yours by heirship.

Rom 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus"

Romans 8:31-39 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Now there is one last thing I wanted to share with you. In Mormonism, total repentance (stopping all sin) is required before a person can be worthy of forgiveness. I could give you plenty of quotes to back this up. But look at how the true Jesus Christ forgives in the following passage. Pour over each verse carefully and consider all the implications. He can do the same for you.

Luke 7:36-50 "And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

Many Mormons, not having experienced the forgiveness of Jesus, say that this is all too easy. "It just gives a license to sin. It is no more than 'fire insurance'." But this is not what happens. They do not understand. Who loves the most? The one who is forgiven the most! And what is the greatest commandment in the law upon which every other commandment hangs? Love!

1 John 4:19 "We love him, because he first loved us."

What is our chief sin? Not loving God first and foremost above all else. It is not a particular mistake, but a heart problem, remember. I know you have loved God in the past. But the amount of that love is in direct proportion to the love you have experienced from Him. Now... receive it all! Total forgiveness for all your sin for all time. Will you limit the mercies of the Lord? No.

He said that a bad tree cannot bear good fruit and a good tree cannot bear bad fruit. I was spending all my effort trying to muster good fruit from a bad tree. It was all contaminated fruit no matter how nice it may have looked. But now He has declared me a righteous tree. I may still have my human weaknesses, but the fruit of love for God pours from my soul through my deeds. Like living water. Stop trying to bear good fruit, and instead go to the source to make you a good tree! The fruit will come. The genius of God is that He changes us from the inside out, not from the outside in. It begins with His unlimited compassion for us.

I have really written a book here. Sorry about that. I got carried away with the One in my life that is most important to me. I get a lot of email, and don't have time to answer it all, but your note gripped my heart. God has been doing a great work in your life for a very long time preparing you for this most important decision in your entire life. I sense that you are finally ready to die to yourself and abandon your eternal destiny into His forgiveness and love.

I should mention one last thing. I am not talking about some feeling or thunderbolt or burning in your bosom. God's promise is far more reliable than that. Supernatural spiritual experiences are seen as the ultimate in Mormonism, but they are not. Miracles of God have never been an end in themselves, but only used as needed to bring people beloved of God to the point of being able to trust Him without such things. The spiritual high I am on is because "He is faithful that promised," not because of some feeling. Emotion must not lead, but follow the fact of His trustworthiness. If you are careful about this, joyful emotions will most certainly follow, however. I am a very emotional person. (Can you tell? <grin>)

I look forward to hearing from you next. Please tell me if you make this staggering decision to trust His promise.

Your friend in Christ,

Mark Champneys

1 John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life"

(Note: She did make the staggering decision to trust His promise.)

YOUR DECISION FOR CHRIST (click the salvation icon above)...

Yes. I am making my decision today to receive the free gift of forgiveness of all my sins forever. If I have ever been unsure in the past, I want to be sure of it now. I am choosing this day to trust the promise and the love of the Lord Jesus Christ based upon His death in my place upon the cross. I will henceforth never depend upon my own worthiness and righteousness in even the smallest measure to obtain the forgiveness He has already paid for. I have told God of my irrevocable decision, and I would like to let you know, Mark, so that you can be praying for me.

(E-mail Mark Champneys now by clicking the salvation icon above. If the above paragraph reflects your decision, perhaps you might even copy it and paste it into your email to me! I would love to hear from you.)